The Russian Federation’s Military Manual (1990) prohibits the punishment of war victims, namely the wounded, sick and shipwrecked, prisoners of war and civilian population, “without a previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, with all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized nations”.

Russian Federation, Instructions on the Application of the Rules of International Humanitarian Law by the Armed Forces of the USSR, Appendix to Order of the USSR Defence Minister No. 75, 1990, §§ 7 and 8(e).

The Russian Federation’s Regulations on the Application of IHL (2001) states:

Under any circumstances international humanitarian law ensures humane treatment during an armed conflict, of persons not directly involved in combat operations … In particular, the following shall be prohibited with regard to such persons: … the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court.

Russian Federation, Regulations on the Application of International Humanitarian Law by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 8 August 2001, § 4.

With regard to internal armed conflict, the Regulations states:

Penal prosecution of persons who have committed war and other crimes during an armed conflict shall be exercised on the basis of the Russian legislation via investigation and conviction pronounced by a court offering the essential guarantees of independence and impartiality.

Russian Federation, Regulations on the Application of International Humanitarian Law by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 8 August 2001, § 86.